JPH05113852A - Three-dimensional coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input a Z-axial coordinate value through easy operation by detecting the depression direction or quantity of an operation element, the sliding quantity of a slider, or the rotation quantity of a rotator and outputting it as Z-axial coordinate information. CONSTITUTION:The depression quantity of an upper housing 3 is detected by a rotary encoder 9 and a detector 10. In another way, a gear 8 is coupled with the slider shaft of a variable resistor 18, whose resistance value is varied according to the depression quantity of the upper housing 3; and the variation in the resistance value is converted by a converting element 19 into variation of a corresponding voltage signal (or current signal) or a frequency signal and the conversion output is outputted as the Z-axial coordinate information. The sign of the coordinate information can be discriminated according to the variation direction of the voltage signal (or current signal) or frequency signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional coordinate input device for inputting three-dimensional coordinate information in the X, Y and Z directions to various devices such as a computer that handles images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for inputting three-dimensional coordinates into various devices such as a computer that handles images, figures, sounds, etc., there are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 63-115221 and 63-115.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 222.

This device is provided with a rising instruction button and a descending instruction button on a pointing device, and while the rising instruction button and the descending instruction button are being pressed, the cursor on the display screen is moved in the Z-axis direction, The position of the cursor at the time of pressing the position input button is input to the control device as coordinate values in the Z-axis direction.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional three-dimensional coordinate input device, the cursor is moved to the desired Z-axis direction position by the ascending instruction button or the descending instruction button, and then the position is moved. Since the operation method of pressing the input button is adopted, there is a problem that the operation of inputting the coordinate value in the Z-axis direction is troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional coordinate input device capable of inputting coordinate values in the Z-axis direction by a simple operation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention basically detects the amount of movement of the apparatus main body on the flat plate surface in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, respectively. ,
The first and second detecting means for outputting as coordinate information in the Y-axis direction, and the pressing force or pressing amount of the operating element, the sliding amount of the slider, or the rotating amount of the rotor provided in the apparatus main body, respectively. A third detecting means for detecting and outputting as coordinate information in the Z-axis direction is provided.

[0007]

According to the above-mentioned means, the pressing force or the pressing amount of the operator provided in the main body of the apparatus, the sliding amount of the slider, or the rotating amount of the rotor is detected and output as coordinate information in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the coordinate value in the Z-axis direction can be input to various devices such as a computer that handles an image by a simple operation.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus body showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the apparatus main body,
It is composed of a lower housing 2 and an upper housing 3. A tip of the upper housing 3 is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 4 of the lower housing 2, and a rear end of the upper housing 3 is attached to the lower housing 2 by an engaging portion 5. Engaged. The engagement portion 5 is biased upward by a spring 6 provided inside the upper housing 2 and the lower housing 3. As a result, the upper housing 3 is pressably connected to the lower housing 2. In this embodiment, the upper housing 3 is also used as an operator for inputting coordinates in the Z-axis direction.

Numeral 7 is a saw-tooth tooth which is erected inside the upper housing 3 toward the lower housing 2, and a gear 8 meshes with the teeth. A rotary encoder 9 is connected to the rotary shaft of the gear 8, and a detector 10 is provided on the circuit board 11 so as to sandwich the front and back surfaces of the rotary encoder 9. As a result, when the upper housing 3 is pressed toward the lower housing, the rotary encoder 9 rotates via the gear 8 according to the pressing amount (pressing depth), and the detector 10 responds to the pressing amount. The number of pulse signals is output. This pulse signal is output as coordinate information indicating the amount of movement from the current coordinate position in the Z-axis direction to the new coordinate position.

Reference numeral 12 is a sphere having a part of the outer peripheral surface protruding from the bottom surface of the lower housing 22, and the apparatus main body 1 is X-shaped on the flat surface.
When moved in the axial direction and the Y-axis direction, the spherical body 12 slides on the flat plate surface and rotates by an amount of rotation corresponding to the amount of movement of the apparatus body 1.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a rotary encoder which is attached to the sphere 12 in a sliding contact relationship and rotates in accordance with the amount of rotation of the sphere 12 in the Y-axis direction. The rotary encoder 13 is rotated by a detector 14 attached to the circuit board 12. The amount is detected. As a result, the detector 14 outputs a number of pulse signals corresponding to the amount of movement of the apparatus body 1 in the Y-axis direction. This pulse signal is output as Y-axis coordinate information indicating the amount of movement from the current coordinate position in the Y-axis direction to a new coordinate position.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a rotary encoder which is attached to the spherical body 12 in a sliding contact relationship and rotates in accordance with the amount of rotation of the spherical body 12 in the X-axis direction. The amount of rotation is detected. As a result, the detector 16 outputs a number of pulse signals corresponding to the amount of movement of the apparatus body 1 in the X-axis direction. This pulse signal is output as X-axis coordinate information indicating the amount of movement from the current coordinate position in the X-axis direction to a new coordinate position.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a position input button, which is X, Y, Z.
It is operated when each coordinate position of is determined.

The output pulses of the detectors 10, 14 and 16 are composed of the A phase and the B phase, and the plus direction and the minus direction can be distinguished depending on which phase the timing is advanced.

Therefore, in the three-dimensional coordinate input device thus constructed, when the device body 1 is moved in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on the flat plate surface, the spherical body 12 slides on the flat plate surface. Then, the device body 1 rotates by the amount of rotation corresponding to the amount of movement. Then, the rotary encoders 13 and 15 rotate in accordance with the rotation amounts of the sphere 12 in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction, and the detectors 14 and 16 move the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction of the apparatus main body 1. The number of pulse signals corresponding to the amount of movement is output. This pulse signal represents the amount of movement from the current coordinate position in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction to a new coordinate position, Y-axis, X
It is output as axis coordinate information.

On the other hand, when the upper housing 3 is pressed toward the lower housing, the rotary encoder 9 rotates clockwise through the gear 8 in accordance with the pressing amount (pressing depth), and the detector 10
Outputs a number of pulse signals corresponding to the pressing amount. This pulse signal is output as coordinate information indicating the amount of movement of the current coordinate position in the Z-axis direction to a new coordinate position in the downward direction (minus direction). On the contrary, when the pressing of the upper casing 3 is released, the upper casing 3 returns to the original position by the repulsive force of the spring 6. At this time, the rotary encoder 9 rotates counterclockwise via the gear 8 and the detector 10 outputs a number of pulse signals corresponding to the amount of return. This pulse signal is output as coordinate information indicating the amount of movement of the current coordinate position in the Z-axis direction to a new coordinate position in the upward direction (plus direction). The position input switch 17 indicates whether the coordinate information when the upper housing 3 is pressed downward or the coordinate information when the upper housing 3 is pressed downward is valid.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, coordinate information in the Z-axis direction can be input to a device such as a computer by a simple operation such as pressing the upper casing 3 by a desired amount.

In this case, since the Z-axis direction and the pressing direction are the same, the Z-axis coordinate value can be input intuitively.

By the way, in this embodiment, the pressing amount of the upper casing 3 is detected by the rotary encoder 9 and the detector 10. However, as shown in the second embodiment of FIG. 8, the slider shaft of the volume 18 is connected, the resistance value of the volume 18 is changed according to the pressing amount of the upper casing 3, and the change of the resistance value is converted by the conversion element 19 into a corresponding voltage. It may be configured to convert into a signal (or current signal) or a change in frequency signal, and output the converted output as coordinate information in the Z-axis direction. In this case, the sign of the coordinate information can be distinguished by the changing direction of the voltage signal (or current signal) or the frequency signal.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

Further, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, a protrusion 20 is formed in place of the serrated tooth 7, and a lateral long hole 21 is formed in the lower portion of the protrusion 20, and the long hole 21 is formed. Alternatively, one end of the crank 22 may be engaged with the crank 22, the pressing amount of the upper housing 3 may be converted into the rotational movement of the gear 23 by the crank 22, and the rotation of the gear 23 may be transmitted to the gear 8.

According to this structure, there is a peculiar effect that a malfunction due to a poor meshing between the serrated teeth 7 and the gear 8 can be prevented. Further, since it is not necessary to use a special part such as a serrated tooth, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment, in which a protruding portion 24 facing the protruding portion 20 protruding downward from the upper housing 3 is provided, and a pressure sensor is provided on the upper surface of the protruding portion 24. 25 is attached, the downward pressing force of the upper housing 3 is detected by the pressure sensor 25, and the detection output is converted into a corresponding voltage signal (or current signal) or frequency signal change by the conversion element 26, The converted output is output as coordinate information in the Z-axis direction. In this case, since the coordinate information is output only when the upper housing 3 is pressed downward, only one type of coordinate information code is provided, but when Z-axis coordinate information in both positive and negative directions is required,
A switch for designating the code may be provided, and the switch may be used to specify the code before pressing the upper housing 3. Alternatively, both positive and negative pressure sensors may be provided.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment, in which a light shielding plate 27 protruding downward is provided inside the upper housing 3, and the light emitting element 2 is arranged in a vertical movement range of the light shielding plate 27.
8 and the light receiving element 29 are arranged so as to face each other, and when the upper housing 3 is pressed downward, the light from the light emitting element 28 toward the light receiving element 29 is blocked by the light shielding plate 27 so that the light receiving element 29 moves downward from the upper housing 3. The detection output corresponding to the pressing amount to the is extracted, the detection output is converted by the conversion element 30 into the change of the corresponding voltage signal (or current signal) or frequency signal, and the conversion output is used as the coordinate information in the Z-axis direction. It is configured to output. In this case, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, Z-axis coordinate information is output in both directions of pushing down the upper casing 3 and automatically returning it. Therefore, the code of the coordinate information may be distinguished by the changing direction of the voltage signal (or current signal) or the frequency signal.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

6A and 6B are views showing a sixth embodiment. FIG. 6A is a vertical sectional view and FIG. 6B is a partially cutaway view of the upper surface. In this embodiment, a lever 31 is provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a pressing amount of the lever 31 toward the inside of the apparatus main body side surface is detected by a rotary encoder 32 and a detector 33. Is. In addition, 34 is Lever-3
A spring for urging the spring 1 toward the outside of the side surface, and a support member 35 for supporting one end of the spring 34. In addition, 36
Is a sawtooth formed on the outer circumference of the arc portion of the lever 31,
A gear 37 attached to the rotary shaft of the rotary encoder 32
, And the gear 37 is rotated according to the pressing amount of the lever 31. Reference numeral 38 is a rotary shaft of the lever 31.

According to this embodiment, even when the apparatus body 1 is separated from the flat plate surface, the measure body 1 is grasped and squeezed in the Z direction.
You can enter axis coordinate values.

In this case, since part of the serrated teeth 36 is exposed to the outside of the side surface, dirt may be attached and the meshing with the gear 37 may be deteriorated. However, the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, if the serrated teeth 36 are the lever 31 hidden inside the apparatus main body 1, such a problem can be solved.

A pressure sensor may be used as in the embodiment of FIG. 4 to detect the pressing force of the lever 31.

In FIG. 7, parts that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 6 are indicated by the same symbols.

8A and 8B are views showing an eighth embodiment. FIG. 8A is a vertical sectional view and FIG. 8B is a top view. In this embodiment, a slider 39 which is slidable is provided at a part of the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body 1, specifically, at a position adjacent to the position input switch 17, and the sliding amount of this slider is determined by a slide type volume. 40
Is detected, and the detected output is converted into a corresponding voltage signal (or current signal) or change in frequency signal by the conversion element 41, and the converted output is output as coordinate information in the Z-axis direction. is there. In this case, when the slider 39 is slid in the front end direction of the apparatus main body 1, the positive sign is output, and when it is slid in the rear end direction, the negative sign is output as coordinate information.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be obtained. In addition, the slide type volume 40 and the conversion element 4 are added to the existing two-dimensional coordinate input device.
There is an advantage that it can be dealt with by a simple improvement such as adding 1.

9A and 9B are views showing a ninth embodiment. FIG. 9A is a vertical sectional view and FIG. 9B is a top view. In this embodiment, a rotor 42 is provided at a part of the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body 1, specifically, at a position adjacent to the position input switch 17, and the rotation of the rotor 42 is controlled by a gear wheel 43.
The rotation amount of the rotary encoder 44 is transmitted to the rotor 44 and detected by the detector 45.
The number of pulse signals corresponding to the rotation amount of 2 is extracted, and the pulse signals are output as coordinate information indicating the amount of movement from the current coordinate position in the Z-axis direction to a new coordinate position.

In this case, the coordinate information having a positive sign when the rotor 42 is slid in the front end direction and the negative sign when the rotor 42 is slid in the rear end direction is output.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a tenth embodiment.
The figure (a) is a longitudinal sectional view and the figure (b) is a top view. In this embodiment, a rotary volume is provided on a part of the side surface of the apparatus body 1.
The rotor 46 of the drum 47 is provided, the amount of rotation of the rotor 46 is detected by the volume 47, and the detected output is converted by the conversion element 48 into a corresponding voltage signal (or current signal),
Alternatively, it is converted into a change in the frequency signal and the converted output is Z
It is configured to be output as coordinate information in the axial direction. In this case, when the rotor 46 is slid in the front end direction of the apparatus body 1, the positive sign is output, and when the rotor 46 is slid in the rear end direction, the negative sign is output as coordinate information.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be obtained. Further, there is an advantage that the existing two-dimensional coordinate input device can be dealt with by a simple improvement such as adding the rotary volume 47 and the conversion element 48.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the connection between the three-dimensional coordinate input device of each of the above embodiments and an external device such as a computer.
The coordinate information of the Y and Z axes is modulated by the modulator 50, and the demodulator 5 of the external device is connected via the wired or wireless line 51.
2, the original pressing information, the coordinate information of each of the X, Y, and Z axes are returned to the original pressing information, and further digitized by the driver program 53, and input to the application program 54 that handles images and graphics.

In each of the above embodiments, the coordinate information of the X and Y axes is output by using the rotary encoder and the detector, but the present invention is not limited to this and, for example, the apparatus. A mesh similar to graph paper is printed on the flat plate surface on which the main body 1 is placed, and the number of crosses of the mesh when the device main body is moved in the X-axis or Y-axis direction is optically detected.
It may be configured to output as coordinate information in the directions of the axes and the Y-axis.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, basically, the amount of movement of the apparatus main body on the flat plate surface in the X-axis and Y-axis directions is detected, and the coordinates in the X-axis and Y-axis directions are detected. The first and second detecting means for outputting as information, and the pressing force or the pressing amount of the operator provided in the apparatus main body, the sliding amount of the slider, or the rotating amount of the rotor are respectively detected to detect the Z-axis direction. Since the third detecting means for outputting the coordinate value to the computer is provided, the coordinate value in the Z-axis direction is calculated by the computer that handles the image.
Data on various devices such as
It is possible to specify the color tone, volume, ruled line thickness in word processing, outline font enlargement, reduction, etc. from one coordinate input device without losing the continuity of operation, greatly improving operability. It has an extremely excellent practical effect of being able to improve.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view and a partially cutaway top view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway view of an upper surface showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view and a top view showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view and a top view showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view and a top view showing a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a connection relationship between the device of the present invention and an external device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Device main body, 2 ... Lower housing, 3 ... Upper housing, 6, 34
... Springs, 7,36 ... Sawtooth teeth, 9,13,15,3
2,44 ... Rotary encoder, 10,14,16,3
3, 45 ... Detector, 11 ... Circuit board, 12 ... Sphere, 17
... Position input switch, 18 ... Volume, 19, 26,
30, 41 ... Conversion element, 20 ... Projection portion, 22 ... Crank, 25 ... Pressure sensor, 27 Light shield plate, 28 ... Light emitting element,
29 ... Light receiving element, 31 ... Lever, 39 ... Slider, 40 ...
Sliding volume, 42, 46 ... Rotor.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. First and second detecting means for detecting the amount of movement of an apparatus main body in the X-axis and Y-axis directions on a flat plate surface and outputting the detected amount as coordinate information in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively. The amount of pressing or the pressing force of the operator provided on the main body of the device is detected, and Z
A three-dimensional coordinate input device, comprising: a third detection unit that outputs coordinate information in the axial direction. 2. The operating element is composed of an upper casing which is pressably connected to a lower casing of the apparatus main body, and the third detecting means detects the amount of pushing or pushing force of the upper casing in the flat surface direction. The three-dimensional coordinate input device according to claim 1, which is for detecting. 3. The operator is composed of a lever attached to the side surface of the apparatus body so as to be able to be pressed, and the third detecting means detects the amount of pressing or the pressing force of the lever toward the inside of the apparatus body side surface. The three-dimensional coordinate input device according to claim 1, which is a thing. 4. First and second detection means for detecting the amount of movement of the device body in the X-axis and Y-axis directions on the flat plate surface and outputting the detected amount as coordinate information in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively. A slider provided slidably on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the main body of the apparatus, and a third detection means for detecting a sliding amount of the slider and outputting it as coordinate information in the Z-axis direction. Characterized by 3
Dimensional coordinate input device. 5. First and second detecting means for detecting the amount of movement of the device body in the X-axis and Y-axis directions on the flat plate surface and outputting the detected amount as coordinate information in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively. A rotor provided rotatably on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the main body of the apparatus, and third detecting means for detecting the amount of rotation of the rotor and outputting it as coordinate information in the Z-axis direction. And 3
Dimensional coordinate input device.